A serious look at the DC Universe that doesn't take itself too seriously

Friday, June 4, 2010

JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #1

“Part One: Gone but Not Forgotten”

Story: Keith Giffen & Judd Winick

Script: Judd Winick

Breakdowns: Keith Giffen

Penciller: Aaron Lopresti

Inker: Matt Ryan

Editor: Michael Siglain

Synopsis

In the aftermath of the Blackest Night, Maxwell Lord has returned, and Earth’s heroes have teamed up with Checkmate to hunt him down.While Captain Atom, Fire and Ice investigate an energy spike in Yemen, Booster Gold discovers Max hiding out in the Justice League International’s Embassy in New York City.After Max savagely beats Booster, he explains that he is just trying to do what he has always tried to do – save the world.Booster activates his JLI alert, which brings Skeets, Captain Atom, Fire and Ice to his side.The five of them are at ground zero when Max uses his powers to make everyone in the world forget that he ever existed, giving Lord free reign to do whatever he wants…

Notes

Page 1:Maxwell Lord IV, first appeared in Justice League #1.Able to control the minds of others, accompanied by a toll on his body, usually in the form of a nosebleed.Last appeared in Blackest Night #8.

Note that Lord’s appearance in this story, for the most part, takes place before his appearance in Brightest Day #0.Presumably this story takes place shortly after Max’s resurrection in Blackest Night #8, since I can’t see him waiting too long to enact his plans.

Panel Four:The group shot of the Justice League International, is a recreation of the poster released by DC Comics shortly after Justice League International #7 was released.Drawn by Kevin Maguire, it features Maxwell Lord, Captain Atom, Rocket Red #7, Batman, Martian Manhunter, Guy Gardner, Black Canary, Mister Miracle, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold and Oberon.Man, I loved that poster…

Actually, I loved the J.L.I.Loved it, loved it, loved it.It was one the first titles I remember collecting from the beginning, and I thoroughly enjoyed every damn issue, so this new series is a treat for me, even though scripter J.M. DeMatteis isn’t involved.

Page 2:Maxwell Lord shot and killed Ted Kord, the Blue Beetle, after Kord found out that Lord was the secret head of Checkmate in Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1.

Superman, under the mental control of Maxwell Lord, nearly killed Batman in The Adventures of Superman #642.

In an effort to put an end to Maxwell Lord’s plans, Wonder Woman snapped his neck in Wonder Woman (second series) #219.

A few things to note.First, Plastic Man, last seen in Justice League of America (second series) #40, isn’t doing so well lately.As a result of his battle with Prometheus in Justice League: Cry for Justice #6, Plaz can’t seem to control his body’s elastic nature anymore.

Secondly, Red Tornado is currently without a body.Cyborg is working to build a new one for him, but, as of this story, Reddy is a just a head hanging out in the JLA Watchtower.

Third, Superman’s presence here on Earth is a bit strange, if only because I assume that, as of this story, New Krypton is still intact and the War of the Superman has yet to occur.So why the Man of Steel is even on Earth right now is a bit of a mystery.

Page 4:At the Bat-Bunker, Batman deals with the intel side of things.Present here are Red Robin (Tim Drake), Plastic Man (still looking good), Green Lantern, the Flash (wearing the wrong costume, but maybe he’s just trying out a new one), Hawkman, Wonder Woman and the Atom (Ray Palmer).

Page 13:Rip Hunter’s Time Lab made its first appearance in 52 Week Six.The blackboard is frequently covered with hints and teases to the future of the DC Universe.

Hanging out with Booster is his pal Skeets, an artificial intelligence security robot from the 25th century.He’s Booster’s right hand man…er, robot.

Page 17:Captain Atom got off lucky this time.In the past, when he attempted to absorb too much energy, his body would “quantum leap” either forward or backward in time.

Page 19:The New York embassy of the Justice League International was the most widely-used back in the team’s heyday.After the J.L.I. lost its United Nations’ sanctioning (for the first time) in Justice League Europe #31, the League abandoned the embassies, and moved their base of operations back to the Secret Sanctuary in Happy Harbor, R.I.

Page 20:“CRACK”Ouch.That looked like it hurt.

Page 21:“I’m glad it was you.I really am.”In Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1, Maxwell Lord tells Ted Kord, “I’m glad it’s you who found me here.”Max is attempting to connect with Booster, since they are both “normal” humans in a world of metas.

“Go to hell.”Before Max short Ted, the Blue Beetle told his friend, “Rot in hell, Max.”

Page 23:“I am doing what I have always done – right from the beginning.”To make a long story short, years ago Max became convinced that the best way to save the world was to take it over.And the easiest way to do that was with an international team of super-heroes.Hence, he manipulated the Justice League and arranged it so that the group would be U.N.-sanctioned.He later had a change of heart, after he realized that he was being manipulated by an alien computerized intelligence.Hey, it’s happened to me, too…

“Right from when I found you and marched you – right there – through the door to the Justice League of America!”Max basically walked right into Justice League headquarters and introduced the team to its newest member, Booster Gold, in Justice League #4.Unfortunately for them, they had no idea who in the world he was.

However, Max and Booster didn’t walk into the J.L.I. embassy, mainly because it didn’t exist yet.They walked into the Secret Sanctuary, which the Justice League was using as its base at the time.

“Who’s right?” Max does have a point; why is he back?Yes, I know, the writers had a cool story for him and brought him back.But, in the context of Brightest Day and the DC Universe, how does he rank up there with Aquaman, J’onn J’onzz and the Hawks and deserve to return?

Page 24:Booster is fiddling with one of the old J.L.I. signal devices to send out a distress call.

Pages 26-27:This scene corresponds to Brightest Day #0, pages 21-23, in which Maxwell Lord pushes his mental abilities to the limit, causing everyone in the world to forget his existence.In addition to Booster Gold, Skeets, Captain Atom, Fire and Ice, Boston Brand, the former Deadman seems immune to the effects of Max’s power.

Pages 28-29:Yep, pretty much the whole world gets a taste of Max’s mental whammy.

Page 30:For the record, Maxwell Lord received his mental abilities after the Gene Bomb was detonated by a rogue Dominator in Earth’s atmosphere in Invasion! #3.His abilities first manifested in Justice League International #24.

Page 31:“Who’s Max Lord?”Not a good sign.Definitely not a good sign.

Page 32:Charles Pierre Baudelaire was a 19th century poet and critic.While much of his work and philosophical proclamations were considered scandalous at the time, his influence of modern French literature was considerable.

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist.”Baudelaire wrote this in his 1864 short story, “The Generous Gambler.”This line was also used in the 1995 film The Usual Suspects, to explain the story of Keyser Söse.

By the way, for those of you who weren’t able to enjoy the exploits of the J.L.I. back in their own series (translation: you aren’t in your thirties), and you don’t feel like searching for hard-to-find back issues, then pick with DC’s Justice League International hardcover collections.The four volumes collect the first two and a half years of J.L.I., loads of fun for everyone…